Toy electric locomotives



Aug. 4, 1959 J. L. BONANNO 2,897,770

TOY ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Filed Aug. 22, 1956 n 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 *liINVENTOR (/OSEPH l. EON/MIND BY h ATTORNEY 1959 J. L. BONANNO 2,897,770

TOY ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Filed Aui- 22, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y INVENTOR(/OSEPH LBo/vmv/vo ATTO R N EY Aug. 4,. 1959 J. BONANNO 2,897,770

v TOY ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Filed Aug. 22 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v.INVENTOR l/OSEPH z. Bo/va/v/vo ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,897,770I TOY ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Joseph L. Bonanno, South Orange, N.J.,assignor to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of NewYork Application August 22, 1956, Serial No. 605,586

8 Claims. (Cl. 105-49) The present invention relates to toy electriclocomotives and is more particularly directed toward the running gearand propulsion unit of such a locomotive.

The present invention contemplates an improved propulsion unit for'toyelectric locomotives having a frame made out of sheet metal parts towhich is permanently secured the field structure of an electric motor.The truck frame carries worm gears driven by a worm in the lower end ofthe armature shaft of the motor and the driving gears to the wheels.

The present invention also contemplates improved means for securing themotor truck assembly to the body of the locomotive whereby the assemblymay have arcuate movement relative to the locomotive body and a smallamount of lateral movement. This avoids the use of the central pivot pinfor the truck-to-chassis assembly heretofore in common use.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, several embodiments in which the invention may take form, itbeing understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention,rather than limiting the same.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a toy locomotive of the dieselelectric type;

Figure 2 is a horizontal, sectional view showing the propulsion motorand truck, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view on a large scale of the propulsion unit,parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical, cross section taken on the broken line 5-5 ofFigure 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure3;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the truck carriedside plates; and

Figure 8 is an exploded view showing the various component parts of thecombined propulsion unit, the motor brush rigging wheels, axles anddriving gears being omitted.

The toy locomotive has a plastic cover 10 which gives the locomotive itsappearance and a platform 11 having side flanges 12. The platformsupports the plastic cover and connects the trucks T and T with oneanother and carries the couplers. The trucks have wheels W, adapted toride on the usual rail R.

Reference is now made to Figure 8 where the component parts will bedescribed. These include two Identical stamped steel side plates 20.Each plate has two pans of large holes 21 adapted to receive the axlebushings. Near their ends plates 20 have vertical slots 22 andhorizontal slots 23. Medially of the plates there are two pairs ofsquare openings 24, above which are two round holes 25. A relativelylarge hole 26 is between the holes 25.

Near the ends the upper edges of the plates have upwardly extending tabs27 and lands 28. At the left or rear end of the truck to be formed theplates 20 have notches 29' for cooperation with the coupler mechanism.The purposes of these elements will appear later in the description.

The frame of the'truck has a front end member 30 and a rear end member31 which are alike except that the member 30 has a rearward extension 32for securement to the coupler. These end members have side tabs 33 whichare adapted to enter the slots 22 in the side plates and bottom tabs 34adapted to enter the slots 23. A plastic bearing cup 35 has lugs 36which enter the square holes 24 of the side plates. When the sideplates,bearing cup and end members are assembled together, the tabs 33 and 34are upset, thus securing these parts together.

A horizontal plate 37 is adapted to carry the propulsion motor or to beused as a part of the truck without the propulsion motor. It has fourslots 38 adapted to receive tabs 27, slots 39 being adapted to receivethe narrowed upper ends 40 of the end pieces 30, 31. It also hasfourholes 41 for the'securement of truck side members 41a (Figs. 5, 6and 7) and holes 42 to receive motor carried posts and an opening 43 toaccommodate parts of the motor.

When the horizontal plate 37 is secured to the side plates 20-20 theframe of a non-motorized truck is assembled. When, however, the truck isto be motorized, the present invention contemplates the use of a motorfield structure 45 secured to the plate 37 by shouldered posts 46 whoselower ends 46' pass through holes 42, 42 and are upset. An upper motorend plate 47 is provided with brush rigging 48 and an upper bearing 49for the upper end of the motor armature shaft 50. The shaft 50 carriesthe usual armature 51 and commutator 52 has a worm 53 near its lower endand a reduced lower end 54 which enters the bearing cup 35 and rides onball 35'. The top plate is secured to the posts 46 by screws 55.

The holes 21, 21 in the side plates receive bushings 60 through whichpass axle shafts 61 carrying the truck wheels 62. The central holes inthe side plates carry bushings 63 which receive a gear shaft 64 having aworm wheel 65 in mesh with the worm 53. The shaft 64 drives an externalgear 66. The holes 25, 25 on the left side plate carry bushings 67, 67which support stub shafts carrying idler gears 68 in mesh with gears 69carried by the adjacent wheels.

When one wishes to secure the locomotive body to the truck assemblage,with or without propulsion motor, the posts 40 of the upper ends of theend members 30 and 31 are passed up through the arcuate slots 70, 70 inthe platform plate 11 of the locomotive, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.These extensions 40 receive, as more clearly shown in Figure 4,cup-shaped washers 71, coiled springs 72, and a non-removable springretainer 73. These serve to hold the plate 37 tightly against bumps 74formed in plate 11. As the plate passes up between the flanges 12, 12 ofplate 11 and has slight clearance, it is obvious that the truck can turnabout a vertical axis a limited amount.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other formsand constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to beunderstood that the particular form shown herein is but one of theseforms and, various modifications and changes being possible, I do nototherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy locomotive, a platform having depending sides and twoopposite coaxial arcuate slots centrally disposed with respect to theplatform sides each extending laterally in an are on .each side of thelocomotive longitudinal axis, a wheeled truck having a horizontal platereceived between the platform sides which limit movement of the unit andalso having two upwardly extending members entering the slots saidmembers being of a size to permit movement along said slots and havingwidened portions, and spring means biased between the platform and thewidened portions of the upwardly extending members to hold thehorizontal plate against the lower surface of the platform whereby theupwardly extending members move laterally within said slots and thepropulsion unit may swing about a vertical axis.

2. The toy of claim 1, wherein the wheeled truck includes side platessecured to the horizontal plate and carrying truck wheels.

3. The toy of claim 2, wherein the horizontal plate carries a propulsionmotor with a worm drive and the truck carries wheel driving gears drivenby said worm drive.

4. A sub-assembly for the truck of a toy locomotive comprising twoparallel, vertical side plates, two end brackets, a horizontal bearingcup positioned between said side plates and end brackets at the lowerportion thereof, means securing the end brackets and bearing cup betweensaid side plate, and top plates secured to the upper edges of sideplates.

5. A sub-assembly as in claim 4, wherein the top plate supports anelectric motor having its armature on a vertical axis which has anarmature shaft carrying a worm supported in the bearing cup.

6. The sub-assembly of claim 5, wherein the side plates support wheeledaxles, and gearing supported on said sub-assembly connecting theworm tothe wheels.

7. A propulsion unit for a toy comprising a platform, a substantiallyhorizontal motor supporting member adjacent said platform, a wheelsupporting member depending from said motor supporting member, wheelsrotatably mounted on said wheel supporting member, motor driving meanson said motor supporting member, means connected to said motor drivingmeans and said wheels to to tate the latter, and resilient mountingmeans connected to each end of said horizontal motor supporting memberand said platform whereby to resiliently hold said propulsion unit inoperative association with said toy when operatively connected thereto.

8. A propulsion unit according to claim 7 wherein said motor meansincludes a substantially vertical driving shaft, and bearing and shaftsupporting means held by said wheel supporting member arranged tosupport the lower portion of said motor shaft for rotation therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS385,053 Hunter June 26, 1888 1,020,607 Hunt Mar. 19, 1912 1,781,537Caruso Nov; 11, 1930 1,822,015 Cowen et al. Sept. 8, 1931 1,842,021Hanley Jan. 19, 1932 1,869,199 Koerber July 26, 1932 2,252,789 Van DornAug. 19, 1941

